Saturday, August 30, 2014

Promises, Promises

Desperate for relief, Paul repeatedly pleaded with God to heal him. God's response wasn't "I'd love to but your faith is just too weak." And, it wasn't "You forgot to spin around and click your heels together three times." There was no "If you... then I..." Instead, God's response was no. Our Heavenly Father looked at Paul, the man He called to carry His message to the gentiles, and refused to heal him.

"So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, 'My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.' So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10

God's promise to Paul was the same as it is for us today. He doesn't promise to change our circumstances. In fact, He may be planning to use those circumstances for good in our lives or the lives of those around us. Instead, he promises that His grace is sufficient--that He will be with us in the middle of those circumstances. God is not our cosmic vending machine. He doesn't do what we tell him. It's actually supposed to be the other way around. But He does love us, and He is with us every step of the way. Even Jesus, His own son, pleaded with Him to change His circumstances on His way to the cross.

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An Introduction

My family and I have a miniature schnauzer named Diego (blog mascot). His favorite thing to do during the day is follow the sun around. It's his mission in life. I was working from home one day and watched him move from the middle of the couch to the arm of the couch and finally down on the floor as he inched closer and closer to the window. Eventually it was time for him to switch sides of the house as the sun began to show up at the opposite window. He knew where the sun was going and he just followed it around. I think that’s a great picture of what the Christian life should be. When Jesus called His disciples, he said “Follow me.” That invitation is ours as well. So the question is, where is Jesus heading and are we tagging along?

About Me

I grew up in South Mississippi until I was 11 when my dad joined the army as a chaplain. We went to Texas, Germany, and finally came back to Mississippi for college. I am married in Alpharetta, GA with an adopted son who is in Kindergarten. I have been a music minister and youth minister in the past.